Greece Highlights Value of Tourism at 108th UNWTO Executive Council Meeting

Greek Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura represented Greece and presented the country’s positions on tourism at the 108th meeting of the Executive Council of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) that took place in the city of San Sebastian, Spain, between May 23-25.

Greece is an elected member to the UNWTO’s the Executive Council for the period 2018-2021 and participated in a session for the first time since the organization was founded. During the meeting, the UNWTO’s vision for tourism by 2030 and the priorities set for the next two years for global tourism development were analyzed.

During her speech, Minister Kountoura highlighted the value of tourism for Greece as one of the most important productive activities that have an overall impact on the economy, society and the environment. She also underlined the need for tourism to be placed high on the political agenda at local, national and international level.

Moreover, the minister expressed Greece’s support for the five pillars the UNWTO will focus on for the period 2018-2019, concerning innovation and the digital transformation; investments and entrepreneurship; education and employment; safe, secure and seamless travel; and social, cultural and environmental sustainability.

During the 108th meeting of the Executive Council of the UNWTO, a thematic discussion on “Tourism and Digital Transformation” was held. Minister Kountoura underlined how new technologies can support small and medium-sized tourism enterprises and contribute to the tourism training and education of employees in the sector in order to boost competitiveness.